Viento State Park and Rough Weather

This little painting was done from a photo taken last summer during wonderful warm weather with normal light warm winds blowing.

All winter long I have been looking forward to spring and summer and plein air painting. Nature seems to have other plans. Yesterday we had something in the gorge that in these parts is labeled "epic". The wind has been building all week and then yesterday really let loose with 60+ wind gusts. I do enjoy weather, really rough weather, and watched with awe these powerful forces at work. However, having said that, I am getting a little bit tired of rough weather and again, looking forward to warm, balmy winds and the gentle lapping of water at my feet.

Leaving Behind the Screens

“Mankind needs distraction from the material and commonplace things of life. We seek solace in those things which bring peace to the mind and relaxation to the body. More than all, we desire through the expression of feelings and emotions understanding with our fellow beings.”
By Edgar Payne in Composition of Outdoor Painting

In modern life it seems like we go from the material and commonplace things to screens as a means of distraction. The cell phone screen, the computer screen, the TV screen, and even the appliances now all have screens.

I think a painting on the wall still brings more peace to the mind and relaxation to the body than a screen. Even though paintings of nature and the complexity of nature never can be as wonderful and great as the actual experience of being there, the painter hopes to bring expression and feeling to the painting, and that is something a mere screen can never hope to achieve.

On High over Lake Chelan

Momentous Morning

Cool Waters and Grasses

Prayerful Awe

This morning after a time of being side tracked and thinking about the marketing or selling part of this art business, I opened our email and found a letter by Robert Genn. This wonderful letter emphasizes the understanding of the art world on a level that deals more with the purity of painting and leaving the "troubles of the outside world".

The letter contains wonderful words like transitory, prayerful awe, harmony, bravery, solitude, infinite, triumph, calm, rational, beautiful, sublime, and eternal. Here is a link to the letter.

http://clicks.robertgenn.com/charles-brooks.php

Somehow I connected with his words and it brought me back from the brink of despair thinking about pricing, sizes, value, Manhattan, professional, big, collections, galleries, and city. In comparing words and the feelings one gets from the words, I guess I want to live in the world of harmony, bravery and even solitude with prayerful awe!

The Oak Street Hotel - April 1, 2010

Yesterday I took eighteen paintings to the Oak Street Hotel. This is a favorite location for me to have paintings and for many reasons. Last summer I wrote about the Hotel and I wish to again express my gratitude to Denise and Lisa, and also the reason it is a special place. Here my revised and updated review:

In past years I have had success showing at the Oak Street Hotel and success is always nice for an artist, however, more important for me is the enthusiasm and attitude of the people.

The Oak Street is a rare gem and one of those rare businesses where one feels immediately welcomed and the experience leaves one with a sense of warmth and generosity. It is important for me that my paintings are in such a location.

We enjoy our travels and as we have tried different types of vacation experiences we have discovered that some establishments have that elusive quality of warmth and generosity for the traveler. Places where the owners have put in that extra effort for guests. The Oak Street Hotel is one of those places. Extra details in decorating and making guests feel at home and welcomed is the experience. This is not something you expect at the local chain motel, vacation condo, or resort, and in my experience quit rare. Even on a budget you find those rare gems that money really cannot buy. It is in the extra care and extra effort that turns your travel into something special to be remembered. Below is a link to the Oak Street Hotel and enjoy your travels.

http://www.oakstreethotel.com/

P.S. Be ready to smell wonderful baked goods upon entering the Hotel as they have freshly prepared pastries, Oak Street Hotel coffee and an assortment of teas and fresh fruit awaiting you each morning in the lobby.